Harvester



F. SAVAGE-L HARVESTER.

Palteyted Feb. 1, 1887,.

(No Model.)

m V I UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE FRANK SAVAGE, OF VAKELEE, MICHIGAN.

HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 357,102, dated February 1, 1887.

Application filed October 2, 1886. Serial No. 215,171. (No model.)

' Zo all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that LFEANK SAvAGEpf Wakelee, in the county of Cassand State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improve- 3 ments in Harvesters, of which the following is a specication. Y

My invention relates to improvements vapplicable to grain-harvesting machines, especially binders, of the class having single drivewheels, main frames rocking about the axles of the drive-wheels, cutting apparatus and grain-platforms connected with and partakng of the rocking movements of the mainframe, draft-frames jointed at rear to the mainframes and supported upon casterwheels,and tongues pivoted to said draft-frames; and my improvements consist in certain combinations of devices, hereinafter pointed out by the claims, whereby side draft is lessened, the draft-animals relieved frorn weight upon their necks and'from the unnecessary jars and strains due to violent vibrations of the tongue, the'adjustment of the height of cut by rocking the main frame and cutting apparatus facilitated, and the jarring or jolting of the machine lessened.

In the accompanying drawings my improvements are shown as adapted for use in connection with a harvesting-machine known to the trade as the Champion light binder, but obviously my improvements may be used in connection with the various well-known machines of the class to which the one referred to belongs;

Figure l is a View in perspective showing 3 5 those parts of the machine illustration of whichA is needed to conveya proper understanding of a suitable adaptation of my improvements; and Fig. 2 is a view, partly in front elevation and partly in section, showing details of the caster-wheel and its connections.

I The drive-wheel'A, its axle a, the rocking main frame in bearings attached to the bars B B, on which the axle is mounted, the cutting apparatus b and grain-platform connected with the main frame, the main-frame crossbar C, the seat-beam C of the main frame, the lever D for rocking the main frame about the axle of the drive-wheel, the detent devices D d for this lever, and the cranked rock-shaft E e,with which the lever is rigidly connected, are all of usual and well-known construction, and do not here require detailed description.

The draft-frame consists of the two curved metal bars F F and the block G, firmly secured between them and extending from about midway their length to near their front ends. The draft-frame is jointed at its rear end to the main frame directly beneath the axle of the drivefwheel, a pivotbolt,`f, passing throughv the rear ends of the bars F F and through the innerbar, B, of the main frame, serving to make the jointed connection between the main anddraft frames. The block G and rear end of the tongue H are of corresponding transverse dimensions, and the tongue is jointed to the draft-,frame by a pivot-bolt, h, passing through the heel of the tongue and through the front ends ofthe bars F F. The draft-frame has suitable bracing connection with the grainplatforrn by the inclined brace-bar I, the rear end of which is suitably jointed, as at z', in line with the pivotf.

A large caster-wheel, J, supports the draftframe, with which it is connected by means of its spindle K and a bracket, L, so as to run in line with the drive-wheel. The caster-wheel is mounted as usual in the spindle-forks k k,

and the bracket L is strongly secured by its base L to the draft-frame, near its front end. The bracket projects laterally to the draftframe, so as to locate the caster-wheel in the line of tread of the drive-wheel, and the spindle K has its bearing in the upper and lower ends of the bracket., and is left free to turn therein,.while prevented from moving vertically, as will readily be understood.

The cranked rock-shaft E is connected by a strong rod, M, with the spindle of the casterwheel J, so that by means of the rocking lever D the main frame may be rocked and 'the cutting apparatus raised or lowered for adjusting the height of cut. The connecting rod is jointed at its rear end to the'crank c of the rock-shaft, and is formed with an eye, m, at its front-end, loosely embracing the spindle of the caster-wheel about midway its length. Coilcd springs N N, encircling the spindle K above and below the eye ofthe connecting-rod in the loop or opening Z of the bracket L, bear in opposite directions'upon this rod, which is thus yieldingly held in position. These springs, which may bel replaced by rubber cushions, if preferred, serve, as will be obvious, to deaden shocks, by lessening the violence of thel jars IOO transmitted to the draft-frame from the casterwheel as it passes over obstructions, rough ground, &c.

From the above description it will be seen that the driver of the machine, when occupying the seat (not shown) on the seat-beam C', can quickly and easily rock the main frame by way of the lever D, cranked rock-shaft, conmeeting-rod, and draft-frame, a forward movement of the lever serving to tilt the platform, so as to raise the cutting apparatus, and a backward movement of the lever serving to depress the cutting apparatus. It will also be seen that side draft is lessened and the team relieved from unnecessary neck-Weight, as Well as protected to a considerable extent from blows such as would be inflicted by the vibrations of the tongue were the draft-frame not employed. I am aware that it is not new, broadly cousidered, to combine a rocking main frame, a draft-frame in advance thereof and jointed thereto, a easter-wheel supporting the draftframe, a rocking` lever, and connections between it and the draft-frame to provide for rocking the main frame about the axle of its supportingivheel, and I do not unqualifiedly claim such combination.

I claim as of my own invention- 1. The combination of the drive-wheel, its axle, the main frame rocking about the axle, the draft-frame jointed to the main frame, the tongue jointed to the draft-frame, the casterwheel, its spindle, the bracket secured to the draft-frame and in which said spindle has bearing, the cranked rock-shaft f the main frame, the rod connecting it with thc spindle of the easter-wheel, and the rocking lever connected with the cranked rock-shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the rocking main frame, its rocking lever, the cranked rock-shaft to which the lever is connected, the connectingrod, the draft-framejointed to the main frame,

the tongue jointed to the draft frame, the bracket of the draft-frame, the easter-Wheel having its spindle mounted in said bracket and embraced by the connecting rod, and the springs about the spindle of the caster-wheel above and below the connecting-rod,,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.`

3. The combination of the drive-wheel, its axle, the rocking main frame, the draft-frame provided with the curved metal bars F F, pivoted to the main frame at the innerside of the drive-wheel and beneath the axle, the later ally-projectingbracket secured upon the draftframe, and the easter-wheel supporting the draft-frame and mounted byits spindle in said bracket, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

FRANK SAVAGE.

W'itnesses:

F. W. BROWN, W. J. SaMrsoN.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 357,102 granted February l, 1887, upon the application of Frank Savage, of Wakelee, Michigan, for an improvement in Harvesters, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows:

In line 42, page l, a comma should be inserted after the Word frame577 in line 43, the

comma after the reference letters B B,x should be stricken out, and the following Word should read of instead of on5 and that the Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the oase in the Patent Oftiee.

Signed, eountersigned, and sealed this 8th day of February, A. D. 1887.

[SEAL] D. L. HAWKINS,

Acting Secretary of the Interior. Oount'ersigned R. B. VANCE,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

